5) Everything but Bourbon Street – We got to our hotel at about 1:00am on Friday night, and while our initial intention was to find a blues club and a glass of wine, I thought our late arrival would surely shelve these plans. One of our friends had arrived earlier, and in waiting for us, had brewed himself a pot of coffee, and there wasn’t any way he was going to let us go to bed without a quick walk down Bourbon Street. Our hotel was two blocks from Bourbon Street, so within a couple of minutes we were introduced to New Orlean’s most renowned destination.

I won’t get into everything we saw, smelled, or stepped on, but we all left a little wide-eyed. The street is woven in debauchery, and the seams are stitched with alcohol and waste. If you’ve been to Bourbon Street, I don’t need to describe it. If you haven’t been to Bourbon Street, you probably don’t want me to. I’m thankful that we were in New Orleans for several more nights, and that our experience of the city wasn’t defined by this one late night walk.

4) Architecture – Bourbon Street is located in a neighborhood called the French Quarter, and if you go on either side of Bourbon Street, the appeal of New Orleans grows considerably. The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, although not necessarily the most well-built. Most buildings share a wall with the neighboring building, and they don’t necessarily match in size, color, or style – which makes for an interesting study in contrast. Many walls aren’t square, nor are their floors level – but the exacting nature of the engineering is not what generates the appeal. These buildings give visitors a sense of history, and begins to impart a silent understanding of the city to its visitors. This city is resilient, as are its people.

3) Music - I told everyone that asked me about my upcoming trip to New Orleans that I was most excited about finding a blues club and enjoying the music with a glass of wine and a smoking cigar. Many of the clubs on Bourbon Street did have live bands, but they weren’t what I was hoping for. I thought for sure that off of Bourbon there had to be a place where I would recognize a familiar riff off a steel guitar, the warble of a harmonica, or the haunting melody of an organ. On Monday night, despite my exhaustion, Andy and Dennis talked me into delaying sleep to continue our search, and it resulted in the most memorable night of the trip.

We ended up on Bourbon Street, right at its start, at a watering hole called “The Blues Club.” We had had our doubts on previous visits, but when we walked in on this night, it was obvious that more locals than tourists were there, and they had come to hear “Rooster and the Chicken Hawks.” I don’t know anything about Rooster, and the club was dark, but I’m guessing he’s no younger than 75, and he was dressed to the 9’s in a powder blue, pinstriped, luminescent suit and pristine white leather ankle-high disco boots. My wine might have been in a plastic cup that night, but we were drinking the blues from a hose. If you’re ever in New Orleans, “Rooster and the Chicken Hawks” rock The Blues Club most Sunday and Monday nights.

2) Food - Andy should probably write this paragraph Andy is about 150 lbs and eats more than anyone I’ve ever seen. This was never more obvious than when we were in New Orleans. We ate gator sausage and crawfish remoulade  at “The Gumbo Shop” (although a couple in our attendance have had better gumbo elsewhere), we drank coffee and ate beignets at “Cafe Beignet“, filet blange and bananas foster at “Brennan’s“, pizza and calzones at “Angeli’s on Decatur“, and key-lime pie at “Crescent City Brewhouse.” All in all – the food here is decadent, and worth every one of the three-plus pounds we’ll all have to wrestle off at the gym.

1) The best part of New Orleans – the people. I have to think that the average living wage in New Orleans is far less than that of Seattle, but you can’t tell it from the faces of  the inhabitants. There are exceptions of course, but the people of New Orleans are either well-medicated or genuinely happy. There’s a sense of community here that we haven’t seen in other large cities – even more than what we’ve seen in most small towns. The cabbies all wave to each other, and you can’t walk down the street without seeing “Who Dat?” on a t-shirt or as graffiti on the wall. I have to imagine that enduring through an event like Hurricane Katrina and it’s aftermath will give an entire town perspective, and that a collective celebration of a recent Super Bowl victory might bring that same town some unity, but I think that what this town and its people share transcends an event or two.

Thank you New Orleans for being such gracious hosts to a bunch of real estate agents. Who dat?!

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1. Pickett Street on the radio

Just past the gated, tree-lined driveway – discover a remarkable property that offers privacy, solitude and an abundance of project & work space set on 10.56 park-like acres. At 2990sf, with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, sporting a 2 car attached garage, 8 car 40′ x 60′ detached shop, and a basement woodworking shop, this home has everything for the do-it-yourself project junkie who wants to live ‘off the grid’. Room to breathe, at a price that won’t take your breath away!

List Price: $600,000
MLS#: 22939
Address:2324 Newberg Rd. Snohomish, WA 98290
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Feet: 2,990
$/Square Ft: $200.66
Lot size: 10.56 Acres
Detached shop: 40′ x 60′
Year Built: 1988
Taxes: $7,557
School District: Snohomish
Property Flyer: Workshop Retreat

For more information, call Dennis Pearce at 206.931.9945, or email: dennis@pickettstreet.com.

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Rare top-floor, end-unit 3 bedroom condo in a great location for any commuter. Large kitchen with breakfast bar is generous on counterspace and cabinets. Kitchen looks out at living room and dining area with sliding door to covered balcony. Lower level holds all three bedrooms, including the master with its own bath. All new double-paned vinyl windows, and all appliances stay. Two reserved parking spaces, including a carport with locked storage room. Pets ok! Not another like it in Shoreline offered at a price this low.

List Price: $200,000
MLS#: 25143
Address: 20301 19th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Square Feet: 953
$/Square Ft: $209.86
HOA Dues: $224/month
Year Built: 1986
Taxes: $2,015
School District: Shoreline
Property Flyer: ShorelineVillage.pdf

Call Jesse D. Moore at 425.876.0766 for more information.

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1. NEW LISTING: 2 Bedroom Condo near Silver Lake in Everett
2. NEW LISTING: 2-bedroom townhome in Canyon Park
3. Everett 3bed/2ba Condo with Fenced Backyard- Ground Floor

Set among a collage of natural fauna in the prized Phinney Ridge neighborhood, watch as spring transforms this adorable Craftsman-inspired bungalow. Step from the entry into a living room with high ceilings, hardwood floors & gas stove. Kitchen has parquet hardwood floors, prep sink & gas range. Sun-filled dining room with vaulted ceilings, custom windows & access to ironwood deck. Remodeled bathroom with bamboo floors, pedestal sink & mosaic glass tile shower surround. Gardener’s delight with fruit trees, raspberries & more. All this and a detached garage/shop! Short sale subject to lien holder approval.

List Price: $350,000
MLS#: 22245
Address: 633 NW 75th Street, Seattle, WA 98117
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Square Feet: 790
$/Square Ft: $443.08
Year Built: 1916
Taxes: $3,127
School District: Seattle
Elementary School: Whittier
Middle School: Whitman Middle
High School: Ballard High School
Property Flyer: PhinneyRidge.pdf

Call Jesse D. Moore at 425.876.0766 for more information.

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1. NEW LISTING: Short sale in The Foothills of Monroe
2. NEW LISTING: Marysville Rambler Short Sale
3. BANK-APPROVED SHORT SALE! Tri-level in Lake Stevens school district
4. NEW LISTING: Cherry Lane Townhome on Beacon Hill
5. The anatomy of a short sale

Southern-facing rambler in Marysville on a shy quarter acre lot. Remodeled kitchen has new solid-wood cabinets with pull-out shelves & ceramic tile floors. Laminate flooring through-out the rest of the home, including the living room, huge family room with bead-board wainscoting, and all 3 bedrooms (including master with half bath). Slider off of breakfast nook opens to a partially covered deck & large backyard, home to a storage shed, a playset & rosebushes. Deep driveway with paved RV parking. Short sale subject to lienholder approval.

List Price: $185,000
MLS#: 21028
Address: 6203 86th Street NE, Marysville, WA 98270
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1.5
Square Feet: 1,240
$/Square Ft: $149.19
Year Built: 1968
Taxes: $2,472
School District: Marysville
Elementary School: Kellogg March Elementary
Middle School: Cedarcrest
High School: Marysville Pilchuck High School
Property Flyer: MarysvilleRambler.pdf

Call Jesse D. Moore at 425.876.0766 for more information.

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3. BANK-APPROVED SHORT SALE! Tri-level in Lake Stevens school district
4. The anatomy of a short sale
5. NEW LISTING: 2-bedroom townhome in Canyon Park

Two-story home with covered porch situated on a corner lot in The Foothills community of Monroe. Hardwood floors in entry lead past formal living and dining rooms to a spacious kitchen with breakfast bar. Family room is warmed by a gas fireplace and is host to a large picture window that looks out at back yard. 3 bedrooms upstairs, including master suite with walk-in closet. Fully fenced back yard and detached 2-car garage. Wonderful neighborhood parks!

List Price: $245,000
MLS#: 17641
Address: 16905 Copper Mountain Road SE, Monroe, WA 98272
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Square Feet: 1,596
$/Square Ft: $153.51
Year Built: 1997
Taxes: $2,872
School District: Monroe
Elementary School: Chain Lake Elementary
Middle School: Park Place Middle School
High School: Monroe High School
Property Flyer: Foothills.pdf

Call Jesse D. Moore at 425.876.0766 for more information.

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4. The anatomy of a short sale

Here’s how the awards are determined:

First, over 22,500 people who recently bought or sold homes were surveyed by mail and phone.  Next, professionals in the mortgage and title industry were surveyed for their nominees.  Stacks of surveys were received, screened and scored by Crescendo Business Services.  Finally, a blue ribbon panel of local industry experts reviewed the finalists list – and the winners were announced!

Those surveyed were asked to evaluate their nominees based on nine criteria:  Customer service, communication, finding the right home, integrity, negotiation, marketing the home, market knowledge, closing preparation, and closing satisfaction. We want to thank our clients and those we work with for nominating us.  We are thrilled with the awards, and will continue to do our best to exceed our clients’ expectations and goals.

Several Agents we know keep telling us how lucky we are.  I think Thomas Jefferson said it best: “Luck is a dividend of sweat.  The more you sweat, the luckier you get.”

While many in our area continue to complain that “nothing’s happening” – and that the real estate market is “still dead” – we beg to disagree: As a team, we currently have 15 homes Pending, and many more homes For Sale that are receiving regular showings!  And as a team, we’re currently helping  12 different Buyers find great homes and properties all over Puget Sound.

Finally, I’d like to quote one of my kids’ favorite burger-makers, Ray Kroc (founder of McDonalds): “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.”

We do love what we’re doing.  We strive to put our customers’ goals first.  And we’re thrilled to serve our clients, and to earn success. We’re proud to be winners!   And we’re looking forward to helping many more clients win in 2010!

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Immaculate Rambler on nearly 10 acres! Just thru the gated entry- a slice of private paradise. Situated atop a knoll on almost 10 acres, this 3bedroom, 2.75ba immaculate rambler beams with pride of ownership. Inside are generous spaces including an entertainment size kitchen w/eating space, a separate dining room, living room and family room each with cozy gas fireplace. Attached 3 car garage AND detached 3bay shop/RV/Boat parking. Covered back aggregate patio for “any season” bbq’ing. Standby 13KW *natural gas* generator means you’ll always have power!

List Price: $750,000 <–HUGE price drop!!!

MLS#: 4913

Address: 12711 238th St SE, Snohomish, WA 98296

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.75

Square Feet: 2750

Price/Sq. Ft: $345.45

Year Built: 1996

Taxes: $7,289 (2009 Tax Year)

Heat Source/Type: Gas / Forced Air; 2 Fireplaces / Gas

School District: Monroe
High-Resolution Slideshow

Call Lisa Bender at 425-770-4438 or Jesse Moore at 425.876.0766 or Dennis Pearce at 206.931.9945 for more information.

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5. NEW LISTING: Rambler in Madison neighborhood of Everett

Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados! Nestled in a quiet cedar grove, commanding a bough-filtered golf-course view, you’ll find this classic 3 bed, 2.75 bath Mid-Century Modern home tucked into Bothell’s hillside Valhalla neighborhood. Offering 2660sf of striking modern architecture; the trademark straight roofline, raised clerestory windows, brick facade, wide-plank cedar siding, and elegantly simple design blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings. Many recent upgrades and community pool.

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The Government is also allowing for a TRUE TAX CREDIT of $8000 for first time home buyers that is set to expire in April.  These 2 things can make a huge difference for a first time home buyer.  If you wait to buy and rates go up the roughly 1% that most experts are forecasting, you would be looking at a cost of about 5% of your loan amount upfront to buy down your mortgage rate back down to current levels, on a $200,000 loan that is $10,000.  Add to that the loss of the tax rebate, that is nearly $20,000, or about 10% of the purchase amount.  A more impressive number is the lifetime cost of a mortgage that is 1% higher than the available rate today.  The 30 year cost of a $200,000 loan with a 1% rate increase is $45,000.

This is a call to action, if you are debating buying your first house, or moving up to a larger home, please consider the cost of waiting.

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2. $8,000 Homebuyers tax credit: Got Yours?
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4. The New, Improved, (and extended) $8,000 Tax Credit
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